Mr. Gus Hastings:

I thank the Chairman for inviting us. This is my second time here. Last time I came was for the north-west rural development INTERREG programme. We raised many of the issues that we are raising today. Some have been resolved. The first time we talked about Altnagelvin was with regard to the cancer unit which is now up and running. It has pride of place and it helps people from both sides of the Border. We run many projects together for Donegal, Derry and Strabane. The relationship has blossomed over the last four years. Prior to that, we had a good relationship but we tended to be in silos because in the past, we had as many as six councils working together and now we have two major councils in the north west. One of the most important things for us is that the relationships that are built up now continue even after Brexit. We do not know what it will look like but it is definitely on its way. We do not know exactly how soft or how hard it will be but this should not affect the Derry, Donegal and Strabane partnership.

Over the years, there has been a lack of investment, to say the least, in the north west. It does not take a rocket scientist to know that. The Chairman is well aware of it. I want to talk about health and well-being. The projects we have done include the cross-Border one on greenways and environmental development. Inch and Ballykelly are good examples of what can be done when people get together and start to think as a unit. I launched this particular project two weeks ago on behalf of north-west sporting pathways. This is for all sports in the north west, especially the big four: rugby, ladies' rugby, cricket, football, Gaelic sports etc. They have come together and the training will have a cross-Border emphasis. It will not just look at individuals but at the whole. That is good for all of Ireland because when people come together and work at those lower levels, it evolves very quickly. Where friendships are cemented and built upon, they remain. They are not imposed. They are there because people want to be in them.

I am glad that everybody recognises that we are a region. For a while, one would have thought that we were a small area. The population of the north west is approximately 330,000. In Derry and Strabane, there are 149,000. There is a significant number to cover and a question of how to pay for them, which is where the real problem comes in. When we set out our stall, we and our officials sit down together, look at the strategy and what is the best and most economic way to fulfil it. If one looks at the most recent trip to Boston, one can see how beneficial it was to us. Very few of the groups that went there are not doing business now with Boston and the north east of America.

We want to evolve the grassroots organisations, such as sporting organisations. That is only one of many. Where one goes to next is the important matter. Regardless of whether Brexit comes or not, the city deal needs to go ahead. It is not that we want it to go ahead: it needs to go ahead. We need to send a message to the rest of Europe and the rest of the world that we are open for business. I hope the committee continues to support us on those issues.

When people talk about the Good Friday Agreement, they tend not to look at the detail. We need to be very aware of that. We would not have it without partnership and development and relationships being built on a solid foundation. Otherwise it would have fallen apart. There are those in the North of Ireland who want to see it dismantled. We are well aware of that but we are not here to support that premise because some of what needs to be done has to happen immediately.